Wealth management executives always stress the importance of culture when it comes to acquisitions, but, too often, they wait until after a deal is closed to do the hard work of communicating the missions, vision, and values behind why the transaction is happening. This is a mistake, one that seems to be happening with increasing frequency as M&A activity accelerates.

Acquisitions are a lot like marriages. You wouldn’t invite your loved ones to a wedding without first introducing your intended to one another’s families. Like happy marriages, successful mergers are about cultivating a shared alignment of values, not simply looking at the bottom line.

In a guest article for WealthManagement.com, Vocatus CEO Ray Hennessey explained how, when planning an acquisition, wealth management firms should carefully consider the long-term ramifications, bringing both teams together and investing in a communications process that will set the stage for a bright and successful future.